Blanding Avenue Store Robbed at Gunpoint for Second Time in 8 Days

A beauty supply store in the Bridgeside Shopping Center was robbed at gunpoint Monday morning, the second time in eight days that armed robbers targeted the store, an Alameda Police Department spokesperson said.

Two men — one displaying a handgun — robbed Cosmo Prof, 2651-G Blanding Ave., about 9:12 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, Lt. Jill Ottaviano said.

One of the robbers ordered an employee to open the store's cash register, while the second robber ordered another employee to open the business's safe, Ottaviano said. 

The men fled on foot after taking cash from both the register and the safe, she said.

Neither employee was injured during the robbery, Ottaviano said. 

A similar robbery occurred at Cosmo Prof the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 22, she said. That incident also involved two male robbers — one brandishing a gun — who stole cash from the business.

Detectives are investigating whether the two robberies are related, Ottaviano said.

The Cosmo Prof shop on Blanding Avenue is part of a chain of stores that sell cosmetics and beauty supplies. The Bridgeside Shopping Center is located at the foot of Broadway, close to the Fruitvale Bridge.

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